First Student school bus monitors in Memphis, Tennessee, have voted 55-1 to join Teamsters Local 984, which already represents about 277 drivers and mechanics at this location. The monitors joined the union seeking to raise standards to the level of their coworkers.

“We want the same things the drivers and mechanics have, the same benefits and treatment.” Said John Holiday, a monitor. “I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

According to Terry Lovan, President of Local 984, the monitors organized in order to secure a Teamster contract that would provide written guarantees and protections.

“The vote of 55-1 shows the support that the monitors have for a Teamster contract, so the company can’t give them something today, and take it away tomorrow,” Lovan said.

This victory is the latest in an effort to organize private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 25,600 drivers, monitors, aides, mechanics and attendants have become Teamsters.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

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